The Exposure (The Submissive 9)

He wasn’t gone long. When he returned, he’d removed his jacket and tie. His top button was undone, exposing his neck and chest. Damn, she wanted to touch him. Wanted to unbutton his shirt, peel it off his shoulders, and run her hands over his ch

est.

Either he didn’t notice her desire, or else he chose to ignore it. “Stand right there,” he said, setting up the camera. “The moon’s at the perfect angle.”

She didn’t know the first thing about angles and lighting, but if he was happy with it, she was, too. For several minutes, she swayed in the moonlight, brushed her hair back, and looked up at the sky. She’d never been photographed outside before, much less at night. There was something almost surreal about it. Magical would have been a good word if she believed in such things. Whatever it was, she felt alive.

“Can you unzip the dress by yourself?” he asked.

“I got it on alone,” she reminded him.

“I figured,” he said. “Just didn’t know if you needed help.”

“If you helped, we probably wouldn’t get any more photographs taken tonight.”

“Are you stalling?”

Maybe she was. He’d seen her naked before. Recently even. But this somehow seemed different. More personal. More intense. Just more.

Because they were alone? Or because they’d gotten to know each other better since then?

She turned so her back was to him and, looking slyly over her shoulder, she ever so slowly reached behind to her back and tugged the zipper down.

The only negative to having him as her photographer was the inability to see his eyes. Of course, maybe that was for the best, because this way she could pretend his expression held anything she wanted it to. Yes. Tonight she would play his moonlit muse and he would love her for it.

She looked off to her side as the gown slowly slipped from her shoulders and bit her lip as if unsure about what she was doing. In her mind and for the camera, she became someone else. She was an inexperienced siren gradually becoming aware of the power she held over the men around her. She turned her body slowly, brushing her hair over her shoulders, and twisted her hips so the gown fell softly to the ground.

Forget holding power over men—there was only one man she cared about. Luke.

He was silent as he worked, but she didn’t mistake the sharp intake of breath when she was finally naked and faced him fully. Even then, she wouldn’t look the camera in the eye for fear it would break the spell they were both weaving.

Together in the moonlight, they became the creators of an untold story. Making magic with the way she moved her body and the way he captured what he saw through his lens. No words were spoken while they worked. None were needed. For whatever reason, when he picked up his camera and focused it on her, they moved as one. It had been that way before and the years hadn’t diminished that.

Though she wasn’t watching him, she sensed when he stopped and put the camera down. She was surprised he’d finished; time seemed to have flown. But even more surprising was the realization she wasn’t ready for the night to be over.

She heard rustling as he put the camera away.

“You can get dressed if you want,” he said, breaking the silence, but not the spell. “Or I can go get you a robe.”

“No.”

“You don’t want a robe?”

She turned to face him. The moon had slipped behind a tree; it was hard to make him out. “I don’t want to get dressed.”

“Meagan?”

She wasn’t sure she’d heard him so unsure before. “Come to me, Luke.”

He struggled; she could sense it from where she stood. The man versus the gentleman. The Dom versus the professional photographer.

“You’ve put the camera down,” she told him. “It’s just us. Meagan and Luke.”

Part of her knew she shouldn’t tempt him. It was too similar to what they’d done before. But she was older now and wouldn’t let her emotions get involved this time. She was a grown woman, not a girl. She took what she wanted and tonight, she wanted Luke.

“Just for tonight,” she whispered. “Tomorrow we can go back to being working partners. Tonight we’re just two people who want each other and are finally doing something about it.” She tilted her head. “You do want me, don’t you?”

He didn’t answer, but crossed the distance between them with quick steps until he stood before her. There was just enough light for her to make out the desire in his eyes. “Hell, yes, I want you.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“Nothing.” He framed her face. “I’m not waiting for anything.”

He kissed her and it all came back to her with the touch of his lips. His taste. His commanding presence. His artistry. They were all present in his kiss and though she remembered them, she didn’t recall them being exactly like this. So overwhelming. So completely intoxicating. Surely, it wasn’t this good before.

He lifted his head, just long enough to murmur against her skin. “I don’t think I could have waited another day without having you.” He licked her neck. “Your taste. I’ve never forgotten. So damn good.”

She hummed in pleasure as his lips trailed across her collarbone and his hands dipped low to rest right above her ass. He pulled her close, pressing hard against her and leaving no doubt in her mind that he wanted her.

“Feel what you do to me?” he asked in a growl. “What watching you in the moonlight did to me?”

Feeling inspired, she pushed on his shoulders and he took a step backward in surprise. “What the hell, Meagan?”

She slowly rocked. Swayed back and forth. Dancing for him. “You like watching me in the moonlight?”

“God, yes.”

She ran her hands over her hips. Cupped her breasts. “Like what you see?”

“I’ll tell you what,” he said, and the smirk on his face was evident in his tone. “You can do what you like out here, but once we cross that threshold, you do what I say.”

She was still moving seductively when she replied. “What if I don’t want to go inside?”

“I’m not fucking you outside.”

“Why not? Afraid of what will happen if I take charge? Afraid you’ll like it?”

“Nope. I’m afraid of bears. Afraid they’ll come up on me unaware and maul me to death when I’m deep inside you.”

She laughed. “But what a way to go.”

“You plan on spending your entire time talking?”

“Bossy. Bossy. Bossy.” She stopped dancing and placed her hands on his shoulders. “I think I’ll start by undressing you. See what you have underneath all those clothes.”

“You’ve seen it.”

“It felt bigger when it was pressed up against me just a few minutes ago.”

He chuckled. “I’m yours for the next ten minutes.”

“What happens after ten minutes?”

“Then it’s my turn.”

She didn’t waste any more time. With quick fingers, she unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. He was magnificent with his shirt off. “All those clothes hide a damn fine body. You work out.”

It wasn’t a question, but he answered it anyway. “Almost every day.”

She ran an appreciative hand over his biceps. “Push-ups?”

“Yes. So I have complete control over my body when I have you underneath me. Your legs spread to give me access. Your pussy wet and ready. Your breasts pebbled and waiting for my mouth.”

“All that from push-ups?”

“Perhaps I’d better show you.”

“Not yet. I still have ten minutes.”

“Now. I’m not waiting ten minutes.”